3 Takeaways From Penguins 3-0 Shutout Loss To Devils

The Pittsburgh Penguins nearly escaped Nashville with a win and knew they would be in for a challenge heading into their Saturday night contest against the division-leading New Jersey Devils. Indeed, it was a rough night for the Penguins, who managed just 12 shots on a goal and were shutout 3-0.

It was an ugly night on both ends of the ice, and the defeat led to more separation in the standings. The Ottawa Senators won their game, creating a three-point gap in the wildcard race.

It appears that Pittsburgh dreads playing Metropolitan Division opponents and has little time to regroup as they host the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday.

Penguins on the Wrong Side of History in 2024-25

On Saturday, the Penguins became the third team in the 2024-25 season to register just 12 shots on goal. However, Pittsburgh is now the only team to register at least 12 shots and not win their game.

The Senators beat the Sharks (4-3) on Nov. 27 with only 11 shots on goal, the same with the Red Wings over the Islanders (1-0). Moreover, The Islanders picked up a 4-2 win over the Senators with 13 shots, while the Canadiens lost to the Utah Hockey Club (3-2 OT) with just 13 shots.

It is sad to see such a potentially lethal offense like the Penguins getting shut down by the Devils as if they were playing the trap from 1995.

It Won’t Be Easy to Stay Competitive in the Metro in 2025

The Penguins have won one game against the Metropolitan Division opponents, which came against the Washington Capitals on Nov. 8.

As they wind down the 2024 part of their schedule, Pittsburgh has managed a 1-6-1 record. So out of the 35 games they’ve played thus far, only eight have come within the division, the number growing by one on Monday against the Flyers.

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Even though 25% of their schedule before the Christmas break was against Metropolitan Division rivals, that number will balloon to 36.9% of their final 46 games.

Unless they discover a magical formula for more wins in the second half, the team desperate to stay in the wildcard race could face a slippery slope.

Where’s the Offense?

In 2022-23, the Penguins were shut out twice in 82 games. Last year, the number increased to five, but they were only blanked twice before the Christmas break.

Pittsburgh has been held off the scoresheet three times this season and has yet to play 40 games.

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Two years ago, the club failed to collect 20 shots on goal only once, and last year, their season low was 20. Saturday’s night loss was the fourth time the Penguins failed to fire 20 shots on goal in only 35 games.

Historically, Pittsburgh’s performance against New Jersey resulted in the lowest shot total in a game in the Mike Sullivan era. Moreover, it’s the second-lowest shot total in the Crosby era, with the team registering 11 against the Sharks on Oct. 28, 2008.

Why is this season’s group unable to get pucks on goal? Their inabilities are turning into costly losses that everyone will look back on in April and wonder what could have been handled differently.